Rats are intelligent, easy to handle and make good pets. They don’t bite unless provoked and they rarely fight with companion rats. Mice, on the other hand, are more territorial, timid and need to be handled with care. They will bite if they are handled roughly. Both rats and mice are nocturnal animals.
Diet
You should provide them with rodent pellets with a protein level of 20-27%. Always provide fresh water and avoid feeding them seed-based diets because they don’t provide the proper amount of nutrients. Rats and mice less than 3 weeks of age should be provided with softer pellets. If hand raising is necessary you can bottle feed them every 4 hours with supplemental milk like “NURTURALL.” They can begin eating soft pellets at about 3 weeks of age.
Housing
Fish aquariums or wire mesh with plastic or metal flooring is recommended. The enclosure should be escape proof because rats and especially mice have been known to be quite the escape artists. It should be large enough to place an exercise wheel inside and still have enough room for a nesting or burrowing area, as well as, a feeding area. If you are breeding rats or mice, they require double the space of a single adult. A nest box is strongly recommended for breeding mice and rats. The recommended bedding is shredded paper, hardwood chips, shavings, recycled newspaper or pellets; anything that is non-allergenic and dust free. Do not use cedar chips because they can lead to irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, and liver damage.
Restraint
To restrain rats and mice you can scruff them just like you would a cat. To restrain the head, place your thumb or forefinger just behind the jaws. You can pick up a mouse or rat with or without grabbing at the base of the tail or you could just pick them up by placing your hand over their back and around their rib cage. Never pick up a rat or mouse by the end of its tail because you may strip the tail.
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